September 2000

Plaid Bear's Paw

Tips & Hints

This month's block is a 10 1/2" block. (That is - 11" unfinished.) This month we're using WOVEN plaids (or stripes) for the paws and tan prints for the background. Woven plaids and stripes have the design woven in, not printed on. Tan is darker than ecru-on-ecru, with a background from beige to tan and a darker or lighter design printed on. See the block and quilt graphics for ideas. We will be doing THREE blocks for September, (one is a "thank you" block for Margo.)

For your half-square triangle units, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of your tan squares. Place each of these on a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" plaid square, right sides together. Sew 1/4" from each side of the line. Cut on the line. Press the units toward the plaid fabric and trim to 2" x 2". Sew a half-square triangle to another one. Notice that half the sets are sewn together the opposite way. (See diagram below.) Sew all half-square triangles together in sets of two. Press seams toward the plaid fabric. There will be eight sets.

Sew a set of half-square triangles to one side of each 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" plaid square. Sew another set that goes the opposite way to another square. (See diagram below.) Press toward the plaid square. Repeat for bottom of block.

Sew a 2" x 2" tan print square to one side of the remaining four sets of half-square triangle units. (See diagram below.) Press toward the plaid square.

Sew the resulting units to the previous units, consulting the block graphic for correct placement. Press toward the plaid square. You will have four units that measure 5" x 5".

Sew a 2" x 2" plaid square between the ends of two tan rectangles. Press toward the tan rectangles.

Sew a tan rectangle between two square units, consulting block graphic for correct placement. Repeat with the other rectangle. Press toward the tan rectangles.

Remember to label your blocks with your name, city, state, and email address on the BACK of your block. This may be a piece of paper tacked or pinned on, a sticky label or pigma pen in the seam allowance. Just be sure to label them in some way.

If you have questions or comments, post a note on the Yahoo club or email Squirrel (Patty) or Azpatch (Margo). You will be making THREE blocks for September. Blocks will be due to Patty by September 30, 2000. Patty and I will be getting together at the Quilted Apple on October 7 for Baltimore Masters and Applique Lovers clubs. Please keep up with your blocks. If you get behind it makes more work for Patty and I to send them out to the winners late. If lateness is unavoidable, please let one of us know and remember to include two stamps to help with postage. Mail late blocks directly to Margo. Email if you need the address.

If you have Electric Quilt 4, the file is available for download here. I didn't use scanned fabrics this time so the size is only 26 KB.